Transition Specialist

Job Summary

Are you passionate about making an impact and empowering others with life changing opportunities? Is it your time to help be the difference? If so, Hawkeye Community College has a great opportunity for you!

The Van G Miller Adult Learning Center is looking for a Transition Specialist to join their team. While working at the Adult Learning Center, you are helping make a meaningful impact on the everyday lives of their students. Students are empowered to get the education and skills they need to thrive at work, school, home and in their community all while earning their high school equivalency diploma or learning the English language.

The full time Transition Specialist works with students enrolled in English Language Learning (ELL), Adult Basic Education (ABE), High School Completion (HSC), and Integrated Education and Training (IET) classes in the Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) program. This position aids students in the successful transition to post-secondary education or training. Additionally, the Transition Specialist addresses barriers to college entrance, persistence, and completion.

Hawkeye Community College is a comprehensive community college focused on meeting the needs of the community by providing quality, affordable learning experiences for a diverse student body through our Adult Learning Center, Business and Community Education Department as well as through more than 50 career and technical programs and liberal arts transfer programs. Hawkeye Community College’s mission is about empowering students, strengthening businesses and enriching communities with a vision to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.

Essential Job Functions

Important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Meets one-on-one with students to discuss academic goals and options.

• Coordinates transition to college events for AEL students.

• Completes and discusses career interest inventories.

• Connects students with FAFSA help, assists students to fill out college admission paperwork, and connects students with admissions and financial aid departments.

• Organizes regular college campus tours for HSC/ELL students.

• Collaborates with admissions and financial aid departments and EOC at UNI-CUE to offer presentations to HSC and ELL students at all campus sites.

• Stays current on program requirements and new initiatives such as IET, GAP, and PACE.

• Knows the HSC/ELL student body well enough to be able to provide the intensive assistance necessary for successful transition to post-secondary education and training.

• Promotes college scholarships to HSC/ELL students who are transitioning to post-secondary, assists with applications as necessary, and assists with departmental duties regarding these scholarships.

• Provides support service/retention effort/college completion initiative for college credit students who were HSC/ELL students.

• Maintains communication with the HSC/ELL teachers and administrative staff.

• Collaborates with staff and teachers to implement orientation for HSC/ELL students.

• Serves on planning committees for HSC/ELL completion and graduation ceremonies.

• Maintains necessary records and prepares statistical reports as required.

• Selects and orders any necessary instructional or college promotional materials and serves as a resource person for HSC/ELL staff.

• Provides professional development on transition to college for HSC/ELL staff.

• Serves as a positive voice to community groups about HSC/ELL students.

• Attends meetings with community and college groups, and the Iowa Department of Education as needed.

• Serves on committees and advisory boards as needed, especially those pertaining to college enrollment, retention, and completion.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Communications, Social Sciences, Business, or related field.

• Valid driver’s license and ability to obtain chauffeur’s license.

• Demonstrated ability to exercise professional judgement.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with staff from multiple departments.

• Demonstrated high proficiency using all Google Suite and Microsoft programs.

• Demonstrated ability to work with and provide customer service for diverse populations (staff, students, partners, and general public).

• Demonstrated ability to work a flexible schedule to include evenings.

• Demonstrated ability to work year-round in this 12-month position.

• A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through inclusive behaviors and helping contribute to a culture of inclusivity, and a vibrant, diverse, equitable and including learning and working environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree.

• Experience working with AEL, ELL, HSC, ABE, and/or IET students.

• Experience assisting students with the transition process to post-secondary education or training.

• Experience working with first-generation college students.

• Experience in college admissions or recruitment departments.

• Community College coursework or work experience.

Working Conditions

Anticipated schedule is approximately: Monday/Wednesday/Friday daytime hours and Tuesday/Thursday containing evening hours through 8:30pm.

Requires skills for succeeding in an office environment, using technology. Requires good hand-eye coordination including visual acuity to use a keyboard and read technical information; arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp. Work is performed in an office setting. Sit, stand, bend, lift and move intermittently during working hours. During the course of the day, interact with students, faculty and staff in person, by telephone and computer.

Employment Status

Full time, exempt, grant funded position with comprehensive benefits program including health, dental, vision, life, and LTD insurance, a Section 125 plan for medical and dependent care expenses; holiday, personal, sick, and vacation leave; tuition reimbursement; and a choice of retirement programs—IPERS (defined benefit) or TIAA (defined contribution).

Application Procedure

• Complete online application and required materials at www.hawkeyecollege.edu/employment

  • Submit/Upload a resume.

  • Submit/Upload 3 references with a minimum of 1 from a past/current supervisor.

  • Submit/Upload a cover letter that briefly addresses the following:

    • Your education and work experience that would enable you to perform the job responsibilities of this position.

    • Your experience using various computer applications, student databases, and career exploration sites. Include experience with Google Applications.

    • Your experience with individuals from diverse, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. Include experience with non-traditional students, adult learners, and first-generation college students.

• Submit the online application and all required materials by Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Preference will be given to applicants who submit the required materials on or before Tuesday May 3rd. This position will remain open until filled.

Apply Online

Hawkeye Community College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to equity and diversity in its educational services and employment practices: hawkeyecollege.edu/about/diversity-inclusion/equal-opportunity. The College does not discriminate on the basis of sex; race; age; color; creed; national origin; religion; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity; genetic information; or actual or potential parental, family, or marital status in its programs, activities, or employment practices. Veteran status is also included to the extent covered by law. Any person alleging a violation of equity regulations shall have the right to file a formal complaint. Inquiries concerning application of this statement should be addressed to: Equity Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator for employees, 319-296-4405; or Title IX Coordinator for students, 319-296-4448; Hawkeye Community College, 1501 East Orange Road, P.O. Box 8015, Waterloo, Iowa 50704-8015; or email equity-titleIX@hawkeyecollege.edu, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661, phone number 312-730-1560, fax 312-730-1576, email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.

If any applicant is in need of a reasonable accommodation in completing the application process, please notify a member of Human Resource Services.